Automated Shelf Sensing System

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for powering sensors on a shelf and using the sensors to detect attributes associated with physical objects are discussed. A handheld device can be coupled to a docking station which can be mounted on a supporting surface on of a shelf for supporting one or more physical objects. Sensors can be disposed on, in or about the supporting surface of the shelf. An electric circuit between the handheld device and the sensors can be powered to selectively energize or de-energize the sensors in response to the docking station coupling with the handheld device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/883,362 filed Jan. 30, 2018 which claims priority to U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 62/462,601 filed on Feb. 23, 2017, the content of whichis hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Sensors may be used to detect a variety of attributes of physicalobjects such as weight and moisture. Sensors may be formed of apiezoelectric material, which can measure various characteristics,including, for example, pressure, force, and temperature.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, an automated sensing system includes a shelfincluding a supporting surface for supporting one or more physicalobjects and multiple sensors disposed on, in or about the supportingsurface of the shelf. The sensors are configured to detect one or moreattributes associated with the one or more physical objects. The systemfurther includes a docking station disposed in or about the supportingsurface of the shelf and electrically coupled to the sensors. Thedocking station is configured to couple to a handheld device. The systemfurther includes a controller configured to power an electric circuitbetween the handheld device and the sensors to selectively energize orde-energize the sensors in response to coupling the handheld devicewithin the docking station.

In one embodiment, an automated sensing method includes providing ashelf including a supporting surface for supporting one or more physicalobjects, a docking station and multiple sensors disposed on, in or aboutthe supporting surface of the shelf. The docking station is electricallycoupled to the sensors. The method further includes, coupling thehandheld device, with the docking station, to power an electricalcircuit between the handheld device and the sensors to selectivelyenergize or de-energize the sensors in response to the docking stationcoupling with the handheld device. The method also includes detecting,via the sensors, one or more attributes associated with one or morephysical objects disposed on the supporting surface of the shelf.

In one embodiment, an automated sensing system includes a handhelddevice that includes a display and is configured to execute a sensingapplication, a shelf including a supporting surface for supporting oneor more physical objects and multiple sensors disposed on, in or aboutthe supporting surface of the shelf. The sensors are configured todetect one or more attributes associated with the one or more physicalobjects, encode data associated with the one or more attributes intocommunication signals and transmit the communication signals. A dockingstation is disposed in or about the supporting surface of the shelf andelectrically coupled to the sensors. The docking station is configuredto couple to the handheld device. An electric circuit between thehandheld device and the plurality of sensors is powered in response tocoupling the handheld device within the docking station. The electriccircuit selectively energizes or de-energizes the sensors. The systemfurther includes a computing system including a database that iscommunicatively coupled to the sensors and the handheld device. Thecomputing system is configured to receive the communication signals fromthe sensors; decode the data associated with the one or more attributesfrom the communication signals, and to transmit instructions associatedwith the one or more physical objects to the sensing application on thehandheld device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Illustrative embodiments are shown by way of example in the accompanyingdrawings and should not be considered as a limitation of the presentdisclosure. The accompanying figures, which are incorporated in andconstitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or moreembodiments of the invention and, together with the description, help toexplain the invention. In the figures:

FIG. 1A is a block diagram of an exemplary storage unit according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 1B is a block diagram of a shelving structure including sensors anda docking station according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 1C illustrates an array of sensors in accordance with an exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary automated shelf sensing system inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary computing device in accordance with anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of the automated shelfsensing system according to an exemplary embodiment; and

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process of the automated shelfsensing system according to an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Described in detail herein are systems and methods for powering sensorsdisposed on a shelf and using the sensors for detecting attributesassociated with physical objects disposed on the shelf. A handhelddevice can be coupled to a docking station which can be mounted on asupporting surface on a shelf for supporting one or more physicalobjects. Sensors can be disposed on the supporting surface of the shelf.An electric circuit between the handheld device and the sensors can bepowered to selectively energize or de-energize the sensors in responseto the docking station coupling with the handheld device. The sensorscan detect one or more attributes associated with one or more physicalobjects disposed on the supporting surface of the shelf.

FIG. 1A is a block diagram of an exemplary storage unit according to anexemplary embodiment. The storage unit 100 can include several shelves104 and physical objects 102 can be disposed on top of the shelvingstructures. The shelves 104 can be configured to support and store thephysical objects 102. The shelves 104 can include a top or supportingsurface extending the length of the shelf 104. Sensors (not shown inFIG. 1A) can be disposed on the supporting surface of the shelf 104 andcan be configured to detect attributes associated with the physicalobjects 102. In one embodiment, the supporting structure for maintainingthe shelves 104 substantially parallel to horizontal can includevertical supports 106 and 108. The shelves 104 can also include a frontface 110. Labels 112, including machine-readable elements, can bedisposed on the front face 110 of the shelves 104. The machine-readableelements can be encoded with identifiers associated with the physicalobjects disposed on the shelves 104.

FIG. 1B is a block diagram of a shelving structure including sensors anda docking station according to an exemplary embodiment. As mentionedabove sensors 122 can be disposed on the supporting surface 130 of theshelf 120. The sensors 122 can be piezoelectric sensors configured todetect attributes associated with the physical objects disposed on thesupporting surface 130 of the shelf 120. A docking station 126 can alsobe disposed on the shelf. The docking station 126 may be mounted to thesupporting surface 130 of the shelf 120. The docking station 126 can bemounted anywhere on the supporting surface 130 of the shelf 120. Thedocking station 126 can include an electrical connector (not shown). Ahandheld device 124 can be configured to be docked within the dockingstation 126. The handheld device 124 can be, without limitation, amobile phone, a portable digital assistant, a laptop computer, a tabletdevice, or a wireless portable device. The handheld device 124 can alsoinclude an electrical connector 128 and the electrical connector 128 ofthe handheld device 124 can be configured to be mechanically couple withthe electrical connector 128 of the docking station 126. In oneembodiment, the electric connector 128 of the handheld device 124 can bea female connector and the electric connector of the docking station 126can be a male connector. Alternatively, the electric connector 128 ofthe handheld device 124 can be a male connector and the electricconnector of the docking station 126 can be a female connector. Inresponse to the electrical connector 128 of the handheld device 124 andthe electrical connector of the docking station mechanically coupling, acontroller 129 can power an electric circuit 132 between the handhelddevice 124 and the sensors 122 to selectively energize or de-energizethe sensors 122 using power supplied from the handheld device. Forexample, in one embodiment, the controller 129 may be an addressablehardware switch that is part of the docking station 126 or shelf 120that enables power to be selectively provided to a portion of thesensors on the supporting surface 130 of the shelf 120 in response to acommand generated from executing instructions on the handheld device.Alternatively, all of the sensors on the supporting surface 120 of theshelf can be energized by virtue of the handheld device completing andproviding power to an electrical circuit but may be individuallyaddressable by a software controller in the handheld device whichinstructs only a subset of the sensors to collect data.

In one embodiment, the handheld device 124 may include a power sourcesuch as, but not limited to, a rechargeable battery. Docking thehandheld device 124 within the docking station 126 and completing theelectric circuit 132 allows the handheld device 124 to provideelectrical power to the sensors 122 through the docking station 126.Accordingly, rather than implementing a separate power sourceincorporated into the shelf 120 or connected to the shelf for energizingthe sensors 122, the handheld device 124 can be used as the singlesource of electrical power to the sensors 122.

In response to being selectively energized the sensors 122 can detectattributes associated with the physical objects disposed on the sensors122. The sensors 122 can encode data indicative of the attributes intocommunication signals and the sensors 122 can transmit the communicationsignals to a computing system. Exemplary attributes can be, but are notlimited to, quantity, weight, temperature, size, shape, color, objecttype, and moisture.

FIG. 1C illustrates an array of sensors 176 in accordance with anexemplary embodiment. The array of sensors 176 can be disposed at on thesupporting surfaces (e.g. supporting surface 130 as shown in FIG. 1B) ofthe shelves (e.g. shelves 104, 120 as shown in FIG. 1A-B) included onthe storage units (e.g., embodiments of the storage unit 100 shown inFIG. 1A). The array of sensors 176 may be arranged as multipleindividual sensor strips 172 extending along the shelves, defining asensing grid or matrix. The array of sensors 176 can be built into theshelves itself or may be incorporated into a liner or mat disposed atthe supporting surfaces of the shelves. Although the array of sensors176 is shown as arranged to form a grid, the array of sensors can bedisposed in other various ways. For example, the array of sensors 176may also be in the form of lengthy rectangular sensor strips extendingalong either the x-axis or y-axis. The array of sensors 176 can detectattributes associated with the physical objects that are stored on thesupporting surfaces of the shelves, such as, for example, detectingpressure or weight indicating the presence or absence of physicalobjects at each individual sensor 172. Alternatively, the sensors maydetect other attributes such as temperature or moisture associated witha physical object. In one embodiment, the supporting surface of theshelves is covered with an appropriate array of sensors 176 withsufficient discrimination and resolution so that, in combination, thesensors 172 are able to identify the quantity, and in some cases, thetype of physical objects on the shelves.

The array of sensors 176 may be formed of a piezoelectric material,which can measure various characteristics, including, for example,pressure, force, and temperature. While piezoelectric sensors are onesuitable sensor type for implementing at least some of the sensor at theshelves, exemplary embodiments can implement other sensor types fordetermine attributes of physical objects including, for example, othertypes of pressure/weight sensors (load cells, strain gauges, etc.).

It should be appreciated that in other embodiments, the sensors may belocated in a position other than on the supporting surface of the shelf.For example, in one embodiment, the sensors may be embedded in theshelf. In another embodiment the sensors may be located immediatelyadjacent to the shelf. In one embodiment, the sensors may instead belocated in the proximity of the shelf so that the shelf is within sensorrange of the particular type of sensor. Further, in an embodiment, amixture of sensor locations may be used.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary automated shelf sensing system inaccordance with exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. Theautomated shelf sensing system 250 can include one or more databases205, one or more servers 210, one or more computing systems 200, sensors240 and handheld devices 265. In exemplary embodiments, the computingsystem 200 is in communication with one or more of the databases 205, aserver 210, the sensors 240 and the handheld devices 265, via acommunications network 215. The sensors 240 can be disposed on, in,adjacent to, or in the proximity of, the shelves and can detectattributes associated with physical objects disposed on the supportingsurfaces of the shelves. The computing system can execute one or moreinstances of the control engine 220.

In an example embodiment, one or more portions of the communicationsnetwork 215 can be an ad hoc network, an intranet, an extranet, avirtual private network (VPN), a local area network (LAN), a wirelessLAN (WLAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wireless wide area network(WWAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a portion of the Internet, aportion of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), a cellulartelephone network, a wireless network, a WiFi network, a WiMax network,any other type of network, or a combination of two or more suchnetworks.

The computing system 200 includes one or more computers or processorsconfigured to communicate with the databases 205, sensors 240 andhandheld devices 265 via the network 215. The computing system 200 hostsone or more applications configured to interact with one or morecomponents of the automated shelf sensing system 250. The databases 205may store information/data, as described herein. For example, thedatabases 205 can include a locations database 225, physical objectsdatabase 230. The locations database 225 can store location informationassociated with physical objects disposed in a facility. The physicalobjects database 230 can store information associated with physicalobjects. The databases 205 and server 210 can be located at one or moregeographically distributed locations from each other or from thecomputing system 200. Alternatively, the databases 205 can be includedwithin server 210 or computing system 200.

In one embodiment, a handheld device 265 can be mechanically coupledwith a docking station 245 mounted on a shelf 270. In response to thehandheld device 265 and the docking station being mechanically coupled,a controller 242 can power an electric circuit between the handhelddevice 265 and the sensors 240 to selectively energize or de-energizethe sensors 240 disposed on the shelf. The powering and activation ofthe sensors can take place in a number of different ways. In oneembodiment, the docking of the handheld device 265 with the dockingstation completes an electrical circuit between the docking station andthe sensors and a power source in the handheld device provides powersufficient to power the sensors. In another embodiment, the circuit iscompleted but a separate power source connected to the electric circuitis utilized to provide power. A controller 242 controls which sensors240 are activated to acquire data for the system. In an embodiment, thecontroller 242 is an addressable hardware switch that is incommunication with the handheld device or a computing system andreceives instructions to interrupt the powered electric circuit forcertain sensors so that the sensors are deactivated. In anotherembodiment, all of the sensors 240 are powered but a software controllerin the handheld device utilizes the communication capability in thehandheld device to communicate instructions directly to the sensors toactivate or deactivate their data acquisition. It will be appreciatedthat the instructions may be transmitted wirelessly.

In response to receiving power the sensors 240 can detect a set ofattributes associated with the physical object disposed on the shelf.The sensors 240 can encode data indicative of the attributes intocommunication signals and transmit the communication signals to thecomputing system 200. The computing system 200 can execute the controlengine 220 in response to receiving the communication signals from thesensors 240. The communication signals 240 can also include the locationof the sensors 240. The control engine 220 can decode the communicationsignals to extract the data indicative of the attributes and location ofthe sensors 240. The control engine 220 can query the locations database225 using the location of the sensors 240 to determine the physicalobjects disposed at the location of the sensors 240. The control engine220 can query the physical objects database using the determinedphysical objects at the locations of the sensors 240 to retrieveinformation associated with the physical objects. The control engine 220can compare the set of attributes detected by the sensors 240 and theretrieved set of information associated with the physical objects. Thecontrol engine 220 can trigger an action based on the comparison. Insome embodiments, the action can be updating the database and/ortransmitting an alert. The control engine 220 can transmit an alert tothe handheld device 265 docked at the docking station where the alertcan be displayed on a display surface to a user. Alternatively, thecontrol engine 220 can transmit an alert to another handheld device.

In some embodiments, the control engine 220 can instruct the handhelddevice 265 to de-energize or deactivate a portion of the sensors 240disposed on the shelf. Alternatively, the control engine 220 caninstruct the handheld device 265 to de-energize or deactivate all of thesensors 240 disposed on the shelf. The control engine 220 can determinebased on records in the physical objects database 230 that a quantity ofa group of like physical objects is below a specified threshold amount.The control engine 220 can instruct the handheld device 265 to energizethe only sensors 240 disposed under the group of like physical objects.The sensors 240 can detect a set of attributes associated with the groupof set of like physical objects. The sensors 240 can encode dataindicative of the attributes in communication signals and transmit thecommunication signals to the computing system 200. The control engine220 can decode the data indicative of the attributes from thecommunication signals and confirm whether the quantity of the group oflike physical objects is below a specified threshold amount based on theattributes.

As a non-limiting example, the automated shelf sensing system 250 can beimplemented in a retail store. In exemplary embodiments, a handhelddevice 265 can be mechanically coupled with a docking station mounted ona shelf. The handheld device 265 can belong to a store associate andproducts for sale can be disposed on the shelf. In response to thehandheld device being mechanically coupled to the docking station acontroller can power an electric circuit between the handheld device andthe plurality of sensors to selectively energize or de-energize thesensors 240 disposed on the shelf. In response to receiving power thesensors 240 can detect a set of attributes associated with the productsfor sale disposed on the shelf. The sensors 240 can encode dataindicative of the attributes into communication signals and transmit thecommunication signals to the computing system 200. The computing system200 can execute the control engine 220 in response to receiving thecommunication signals from the sensors 240. The communication signals240 can also include the location of the sensors 240. The control engine220 can decode the attributes and location of the sensors 240 from thecommunication signals. The control engine 220 can query the locationsdatabase 225 by using the location of the sensors 240 to determine theproducts disposed at the location of the sensors 240. The control engine220 can query the physical objects database using the determinedproducts at the locations of the sensors 240 to retrieve informationassociated with the products. The control engine 220 can compare the setof attributes detected by the sensors 240 and the retrieved set ofinformation associated with the products. For example, perishable itemscan be disposed on the shelf and the sensors 240 can detect temperatureand moisture of the perishable items. The sensors can encode dataindicative of the temperature and moisture in communication signals andtransmit the communication signals to the computing system 200. Thecontrol engine 220 can decode the detected temperature and moisture fromthe communication signals. The control engine 220 can query the physicalobjects database 230 to retrieve the ideal temperature and moisturelevel for the perishable items and compare the ideal temperature andmoisture level to the detected temperature and moisture. The controlengine 220 can determine that the perishable items may be damaged ordecomposing based on the sensor data. The control engine 220 can triggeran action in response to determining that the perishable items may bedamaged or decomposing. In some embodiments, the action can be updatingthe database and/or transmitting an alert. The control engine 220 cantransmit an alert to the handheld device 265 docked at the dockingstation where a store associate can investigate further. Alternatively,the control engine 220 can transmit an alert to another handheld deviceof another store associate.

In some embodiments, the control engine 220 can instruct the handhelddevice 265 to de-energize or de-activate a portion of the sensors 240disposed on the shelf. Alternatively, the control engine 220 caninstruct the handheld device 265 to de-energize or de-activate all ofthe sensors 240 disposed on the shelf. The control engine 220 candetermine based on records in the physical objects database 230 thatinventory of a particular product is below a specified threshold amount.The control engine 220 can instruct the handheld device 265 to energizeonly the sensors 240 disposed under the group of like products. Thesensors 240 can detect a set of attributes associated with the group ofset of like products, such as quantity or weight. The sensors 240 canencode data indicative of the attributes in communication signals andtransmit the communication signals to the computing system 200. Thecontrol engine 220 can decode the data indicative of the attributes fromthe communication signals and confirm whether the quantity of the groupof like physical objects is below a specified threshold amount based onthe attributes.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary computing device suitable forimplementing embodiments of the automated shelf sensing system. Thecomputing device 300 includes one or more non-transitorycomputer-readable media for storing one or more computer-executableinstructions or software for implementing exemplary embodiments. Thenon-transitory computer-readable media may include, but are not limitedto, one or more types of hardware memory, non-transitory tangible media(for example, one or more magnetic storage disks, one or more opticaldisks, one or more flash drives, one or more solid state disks), and thelike. For example, memory 306 included in the computing device 300 maystore computer-readable and computer-executable instructions or software(e.g., applications 330) for implementing exemplary operations of thecomputing device 300. The computing device 300 also includesconfigurable and/or programmable processor 302 and associated core(s)304, and optionally, one or more additional configurable and/orprogrammable processor(s) 302′ and associated core(s) 304′ (for example,in the case of computer systems having multiple processors/cores), forexecuting computer-readable and computer-executable instructions orsoftware stored in the memory 306 and other programs for implementingexemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. Processor 302 andprocessor(s) 302′ may each be a single core processor or multiple core(304 and 304′) processor. Either or both of processor 302 andprocessor(s) 302′ may be configured to execute one or more of theinstructions described in connection with computing device 300.

Virtualization may be employed in the computing device 300 so thatinfrastructure and resources in the computing device 300 may be shareddynamically. A virtual machine 312 may be provided to handle a processrunning on multiple processors so that the process appears to be usingonly one computing resource rather than multiple computing resources.Multiple virtual machines may also be used with one processor.

Memory 306 may include a computer system memory or random access memory,such as DRAM, SRAM, EDO RAM, and the like. Memory 306 may include othertypes of memory as well, or combinations thereof. The computing device300 can receive data from input/output devices such as, a reader 332.

A user may interact with the computing device 300 through a visualdisplay device 314, such as a computer monitor, which may display one ormore graphical user interfaces 316, multi touch interface 320 and apointing device 318.

The computing device 300 may also include one or more storage devices326, such as a hard-drive, CD-ROM, or other computer readable media, forstoring data and computer-readable instructions and/or software thatimplement exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure (e.g.,applications such as the control engine 220). For example, exemplarystorage device 326 can include one or more databases 328 for storinginformation regarding the physical objects. The databases 328 may beupdated manually or automatically at any suitable time to add, delete,and/or update one or more data items in the databases. The databases 328can include information associated with physical objects disposed in thefacility and the locations of the physical objects.

The computing device 300 can include a network interface 308 configuredto interface via one or more network devices 324 with one or morenetworks, for example, Local Area Network (LAN), Wide Area Network (WAN)or the Internet through a variety of connections including, but notlimited to, standard telephone lines, LAN or WAN links (for example,802.11, T1, T3, 56 kb, X.25), broadband connections (for example, ISDN,Frame Relay, ATM), wireless connections, controller area network (CAN),or some combination of any or all of the above. In exemplaryembodiments, the computing system can include one or more antennas 322to facilitate wireless communication (e.g., via the network interface)between the computing device 300 and a network and/or between thecomputing device 300 and other computing devices. The network interface308 may include a built-in network adapter, network interface card,PCMCIA network card, card bus network adapter, wireless network adapter,USB network adapter, modem or any other device suitable for interfacingthe computing device 300 to any type of network capable of communicationand performing the operations described herein.

The computing device 300 may run any operating system 310, such as anyof the versions of the Microsoft® Windows® operating systems, thedifferent releases of the Unix and Linux operating systems, any versionof the MacOS® for Macintosh computers, any embedded operating system,any real-time operating system, any open source operating system, anyproprietary operating system, or any other operating system capable ofrunning on the computing device 300 and performing the operationsdescribed herein. In exemplary embodiments, the operating system 310 maybe run in native mode or emulated mode. In an exemplary embodiment, theoperating system 310 may be run on one or more cloud machine instances.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process performed by theautomated shelf sensing system according to an exemplary embodiment. Inoperation 400, a handheld device (e.g. handheld device 124 and 265 asshown in FIGS. 1B and 2) can be coupled to a docking station (e.g.docking station 126 as shown in FIG. 1B). The docking station can bemounted on a supporting surface (e.g. supporting surface 130 as shown inFIG. 1B) on of a shelf (e.g. shelf 104 and 120 as shown in FIG. 1A-B)for supporting one or more physical objects (e.g. physical objects 102as shown in FIG. 1A). Sensors (e.g. sensors 122 and 240 as shown inFIGS. 1B and 2) can be disposed on, in, adjacent to, or in proximity of,the supporting surface of the shelf. In operation 402, an electriccircuit between the handheld device and the sensors can be powered toselectively energize or de-energize the sensors in response to thedocking station coupling with the handheld device. In operation 404, thesensors can detect one or more attributes associated with one or morephysical objects disposed on the supporting surface of the shelf.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process performed by theautomated shelf sensing system according to an exemplary embodiment. Inoperation 500, a handheld device (e.g. handheld device 124 and 265 asshown in FIGS. 1B and 2) can be coupled to a docking station (e.g.docking station 126 as shown in FIG. 1B). The docking station can bemounted on a supporting surface (e.g. supporting surface 130 as shown inFIG. 1B) on of a shelf (e.g. shelf 104 and 120 as shown in FIG. 1A-B)for supporting one or more physical objects (e.g. physical objects 102as shown in FIG. 1A). Sensors (e.g. sensors 122 and 240 as shown inFIGS. 1B and 2) can be disposed on, in, adjacent to, or in proximity of,the supporting surface of the shelf. In operation 502, an electriccircuit between the handheld device and the sensors can be powered toselectively energize or de-energize the sensors in response to thedocking station coupling with the handheld device. In operation 504, thesensors can detect one or more attributes associated with one or morephysical objects disposed on the supporting surface of the shelf. Inoperation 506, the sensors can encode data indicative of the detectedattributes into communication signals and transmit the communicationsignals to a computing system (e.g. computing system 200 as shown inFIG. 2). In operation, 508, the computing system can receive and decodethe data indicative of the attributes from the communication signals. Inoperation 510, the computing system can trigger an action based on theattributes.

Exemplary flowcharts are provided herein for illustrative purposes andare non-limiting examples of methods. One of ordinary skill in the artwill recognize that exemplary methods may include more or fewer stepsthan those illustrated in the exemplary flowcharts, and that the stepsin the exemplary flowcharts may be performed in a different order thanthe order shown in the illustrative flowcharts.

We claim:
 1. An automated sensing system, the system comprising: a shelfincluding a supporting surface for supporting one or more physicalobjects; a plurality of sensors disposed in or about the supportingsurface of the shelf, the plurality of sensors configured to detect oneor more attributes associated with the one or more physical objects; adocking station disposed on, in, or about the supporting surface of theshelf and electrically coupled to the plurality of sensors, the dockingstation configured to couple to a handheld device, a controllerconfigured to power an electric circuit between the handheld device andthe plurality of sensors to selectively energize or de-energize theplurality of sensors in response to coupling the handheld device withinthe docking station, and a computing system including a database that iscommunicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors, the computingsystem configured to: receive communication signals from the pluralityof sensors; decode data associated with the one or more attributes fromthe communication signals; and trigger an action in response toreceiving the data associated with the one or more attributes.
 2. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the docking station includes an electricalconnector.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the handheld deviceincludes a power source and handheld device is coupled with the dockingstation by mechanically coupling the power source of the handheld deviceand the electrical connector of the docking station.
 4. The system ofclaim 3, wherein the power source of the handheld device provideselectrical power to the plurality of sensors through the docking stationand the electric circuit.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein theplurality of sensors are configured to: detect the one or moreattributes in response to receiving electrical power; and encode thedata associated with one or more attributes into the communicationsignals; and transmit the communication signals.
 6. The system of claim1, wherein the action is one or more of updating the database andtransmitting an alert.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or moreattributes includes one or more of weight, temperature, moisture andquantity.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors arepiezoelectric sensors.
 9. The system of claim 1 wherein the controlleris an addressable hardware controller.
 10. The system of claim 1 whereinthe controller is a software-based controller executing on the handhelddevice.
 11. An automated sensing method, the method comprising:providing a shelf including a supporting surface for supporting one ormore physical objects, a docking station and a plurality of sensorsdisposed on, in or about the supporting surface of the shelf, thedocking station electrically coupled to the plurality of sensors;coupling the handheld device, with the docking station; powering anelectrical circuit between the handheld device and the plurality ofsensors to selectively energize or de-energize the plurality of sensorsin response to the docking station coupling with the handheld device;detecting, via the plurality of sensors, one or more attributesassociated with one or more physical objects disposed on the supportingsurface of the shelf; receiving, via a computing system including adatabase that is communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors,communication signals from the plurality of sensors; decoding, via thecomputing system, data associated with the one or more attributes fromthe communication signals; and triggering, via the computing system, anaction in response to receiving the data associated with the one or moreattributes.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the docking stationincludes an electrical connector.
 13. The method of claim 12, whereinthe handheld device includes a power source and handheld device iscoupled with the docking station by mechanically coupling the powersource of the handheld device and the electrical connector of thedocking station.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the power source ofthe handheld device provides electrical power to the plurality ofsensors through the docking station and the electric circuit.
 15. Themethod of claim 14, further comprising: encoding, via the plurality ofsensors, the data associated with the one or more attributes into thecommunication signals; and transmitting, via the plurality of sensors,the communication signals.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein theaction is one or more of: updating the database; and transmitting analert.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the set of attributes includeone or more of a weight, a temperature, a moisture level and a quantity.18. An automated sensing system, the system comprising: a shelfincluding a supporting surface for supporting one or more physicalobjects; a plurality of sensors disposed in or about the supportingsurface of the shelf, the plurality of sensors configured to detect oneor more attributes associated with the one or more physical objects; adocking station disposed on, in, or about the supporting surface of theshelf and electrically coupled to the plurality of sensors, the dockingstation configured to couple to a handheld device, and a controllerconfigured to power an electric circuit between the handheld device andthe plurality of sensors to selectively energize or de-energize theplurality of sensors in response to coupling the handheld device withinthe docking station, wherein in response to the handheld devicecompletes the electrical circuit in response to being docked to thedocking station.
 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the docking stationincludes an electrical connector, the handheld device includes a powersource and the handheld device is coupled with the docking station bymechanically coupling the power source of the handheld device and theelectrical connector of the docking station.
 20. The system of claim 19,wherein the power source of the handheld device provides electricalpower to the plurality of sensors through the docking station andwherein the plurality of sensors are configured to detect the one ormore attributes in response to receiving electrical power.